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Here are 20 of the coolest events happening in L.A. this Labor Day Weekend...
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
COASTER SHOW (Art)
La Luz de Jesus gallery presents The Fifth Annual Coaster Show, opening on Friday with a reception from 8-11 p.m. More than 1,000 tiny works of art on 4-inch coasters will grace the walls, all for sale and priced at $250 or less. Also opening at the gallery on Friday is Harold Fox’s solo exhibition, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish. Both shows close on Oct. 1.
DILLA’S DELIGHTS DONUTS (Food)
Delicious Vinyl presents Dilla's Delights Donuts LA pop-up shop this weekend. On Friday (5-10 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), the Detroit-based donut shop serves up its sweet treats at Delicious Pizza (6601 Sunset Blvd.). Live DJs and exclusive J Dilla merch and vinyl will be available. On Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m. Dilla’s Delights will be at the Delicious Vinyl West Adams Block Party.
HISTORY OF HIP HOP (Music + learning)
DJ/producer Peanut Butter Wolf offers up a free education in hip hop history this weekend at Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park. On Friday from 7:30-9:30 p.m., PBW spins tunes and screens videos from 1979-1988. On Saturday from 7:30-9:30 p.m., he continues the “lecture” with music and videos from 1989-1999. Free and all ages. RSVP for Friday or Saturday.
DANCE DOWNTOWN: SALSA (Music + dance)
Dance Downtown wraps up its 13th season with salsa dancing in Grand Park on Friday night from 7-11 p.m. All ages. Free.
THE TASTE (Food fest)
The Los Angeles Times' The Taste returns to Paramount Studios’ backlot this Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1-3) to celebrate Southern California’s culinary scene. Each of The Taste’s five events includes unlimited tastings and a variety of wine, spirits and seasonal cocktails. Things kick off on Friday night from 7:30-10:30 pm, with the opening event that features food from Tar & Roses, Bourbon Steak, LocaL, Otium and more. Opening Night tickets are $150. Tickets for each of the Saturday and Sunday events run between $95 to $130, with a $25 discount to L.A. Times subscribers.
LAST TICKET FOR THE BEAUTY TRAIN (Art pop-up)
Scott Hove, creator of the Cakeland maze, returns for a two-part exhibition this weekend and next in his solo show, Last Ticket For the Beauty Train. On Friday, KP Projects Chinatown Pop Up hosts an opening reception from 7-10 p.m. (RSVP required: rsvp@kpprojects.net). The pop-up features a “fully-immersive, walkthrough installation at the gallery’s Chinatown pop up space, featuring a groundbreaking mirrored infinity chamber with timed entry.” The space will be open until the end of September. Next Saturday, the second exhibit will be a traditional gallery show at KP Project's La Brea Blvd space, featuring over a dozen new sculptural works. VEGAN STREET FAIR (Food fest)
The Federal Bar in North Hollywood holds a Vegan Street Fair on Friday and Saturday nights from 4-11 p.m. In addition to vegan food curated by FatKid, there’s a beer garden, music and games. Friday night is 21+ only. General admission: $24. Food and drink purchased separately.
FLEET WEEK (Military)
LA Fleet Week takes place this weekend (through Monday) at the Port of Los Angeles from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The activities planned throughout the weekend honor the U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard and simultaneously welcomes active military ships and personnel to L.A. There will be free public ship tours, STEM and military displays/demonstrations, aircraft flyovers, food, competitions and live entertainment. Free.
626 NIGHT MARKET (Food)
The 626 Night Market returns to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia from Friday to Sunday (4 p.m. to 1 a.m.) for the last market of the year. The event features more than 200 stalls of food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, eSports, professional drone racing, B-Boy battles and more! Admission is $5 and parking is free; children 6 and under get in free. (Enter through Gate 3 or 5.)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
MADE IN LA (Music + arts fest)
Golden Road Brewing presents Made In LA, a new music and arts festival, on Saturday and Sunday from 5-11 p.m. both days. The festival is a celebration of L.A.’s music, art and food and beer scene. In addition to performances from Hanni El Khatib, Warren G, YACHT, Buyepongo, Maxim Ludwig, Iconique and others, there will be food trucks, art installations, vendors, charity booths and free beer tickets. Proceeds will be donated to charity. Tickets: $30 and includes two beer tickets. The event is 21+.
POWER FEST 2017 (Music + community)
Community Coalition presents its 6th Annual Power Fest 2017—a free, family-oriented political music fest in South L.A. on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. The day features music, art installations, good food, health resources and special activities for kids. The festival takes place at Martin Luther King Jr. Park and features performances by Ro James, Ill Camille, La Chamba, Rae Khalil, Subsuelo, Changui Majadero, Bananas, Al Jackson (Soul Children), and DJ WORDAMOUPH. In addition, there will be food trucks on site, art installations and guest speakers from the community.
RED BULL SMASH GODS AND GATEKEEPERS (Esports)
Red Bull Smash Gods and Gatekeepers is a new two-day Super Smash Bros. Melee Tournament where fans have the opportunity to team up and compete with their favorite renowned Super Smash Bros. e-thletes. The tourney takes place at the Wiltern Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. Two formats will be used to lead to a final competition: a double elimination tournament and crew battles. The games begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday and it’s free to attend with pre-registered tickets.
DAPPER DAY AT LACMA (Fashion + more) Dapper Day comes to LACMA on Saturday from noon to 9 pm. The day celebrates the current exhibition, Chagall: Fantasies for the Stage, and includes tours of the exhibition, a screening of The Red Shoes, a free concert featuring Fabian Otero & West Coast Salsa Orchestra, after-hours access to Chagall, and dancing in front of Urban Light with DJ Professor Watson. Dress to impress. Adult tickets to Chagall and general admission: $25. The Latin music outdoor concert is free.
WP24 ROOFTOP BBQ (Eats)
WP24 by Wolfgang Puck holds a rooftop barbecue on Saturday atop the 26th floor of the Ritz-Carlton from 12 to 5 p.m. For $45 per person, guests can snack on several stations featuring classics from the mesquite smoker, including Spicy & Sweet Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Kurobuta Pork Shoulder, and BBQ Glazed Grilled Jidori Chicken; sides include sweet and tangy baked beans and brioche rolls with smoked sea salt. Cocktails will be available for purchase. The rooftop is usually for hotel guests only, but this event is open to the public. Reservations recommended.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
WEST ADAMS BLOCK PARTY (Festival)
On Sunday from 2-10 p.m., Talib Kweli and Doug E. Fresh headline West Adams’ first-ever block party. The free, all-ages event, which celebrates the music, arts and diversity of L.A., takes place in the backlot of Delicious Pizza (headquarters). In addition to the lineup of music, there’ll be plenty of activities for the kiddos including games, face painting and the “WestAdams” castle jumper.
END OF SUMMER LUAU (Food)
Marina del Rey Hotel holds an End of Summer Luau on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hang out poolside with views of the marina while Executive Chef Mark Gold prepares a traditional pig roast, fresh poke and more Hawaiian-inspired eats. (The regular poolside menu will also be available.) There are drink specials throughout the day, too. There’s no cover charge, but advanced reservations are recommended if you want cabanas or daybeds.
ICE CREAM ALLEY (Sweets)
Sunday is the final day of Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasburg LA, held weekly at ROW DTLA from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. New pop-ups this week are Coolhaus, Blast’s liquid nitrogen ice cream, Sweet n Hollow’s ice cream stuffed Chimney Cakes, Wanderlust Creamery, Donut Friend’s vegan donut ice cream sandwiches, Paloma’s Paletas new sorbet sundaes, macaron ice cream sandwiches from Bumblecrumpets, Yellow Business’ Hong Kong style waffle and Sweet Rose Creamery. Free parking for two hours.
BOOM ROOM HOUSE MUSIC PARTY (Music + dance)
On Sunday, the Boom Room House Music Party takes over the Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown from 4 p.m. to midnight. DJs JayCee, Tack & Felix M. spin Soulful House, Tech House, Deep House and Funky House mixed in. Admission is free with RSVP.
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
TDR’S 2ND ANNUAL LABOR DAY POOL PARTY (Partaaay)
Three Day Rule's 2nd Annual Labor Day Pool Party aka #TheLastPoolParty takes place on Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Viceroy Santa Monica. Join approximately 500 of your close personals for a party to remember. There will be giveaways, DJs, dancing, bbq and DJs and discounted Svedka cocktails and Jell-O shots. Tickets are $10-$20.
ARTS DISTRICT BREWING COMPANY: PIG ROAST (Food + beer)
Arts District Brewing Company holds a Labor Day Pig Roast on Monday to celebrate the release of its new ADBC Hefeweizen. ADBC opens at noon with classic arcade games and craft brews, including the new “Hermano” Bavarian-Style Hefeweizen (5.8% ABV). At 3 pm, there’s a free pig roast lunch (while supplies last). Additionally, $1 of every new “Hermano” Hefeweizen sold will be donated to Spirited Coalition for Change, a nonprofit that raises awareness and much-needed funds for the homelessness crisis in Downtown L.A.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
